Abstract: The goal of this study was to examine patterns of co-occurring, externalizing, and internalizing symptoms across early childhood. These constructs, along with child emotionality, maternal emotion socialization (ES), and child emotion expression were assessed in a sample of 435 children at ages 2, 4, 5, and 7. Cross-sectional multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. At age 2, compared to the internalizing group, the co-occurring group was higher on anger proneness, but lower on social
fearfulness. Compared to the externalizing group, the co-occurring group was higher on social fearfulness. At age 4, the co-occurring group did not differ significantly from the internalizing group. At age 5, the co-occurring group did not differ significantly from the externalizing group. At age 7, the co-occurring group was lower on fear than the internalizing group. Latent transition analyses were performed to create both 2- and 3- class models representing longitudinal group patterns. These patterns of change were
compared. In the 2-class model, the co-occurring stable group was higher on sad/fear expression than the decreasing group. The interaction between supportive ES and anger expression was also significant. In the 3-class model, compared to the high decreasing group, the co-occurring stable group was lower on anger. Compared to the average stable group, the co-occurring group was lower on SES and higher on anger. Results are
discussed in the context of existing research on the development of emotional and behavioral problems.